Memorial gardens
For the burial or placing of ashes, we offer a choice of private or communal gardens in different styles and locations within our grounds.
Rated 5/5
The Downs Crematorium & Cemetery
The Downs has served Brighton and the surrounding area for generations. Three chapels sit within nearly 30 acres of historic grounds, and both burial and cremation services are held here. Conservation areas, old trees, water features and rose beds give you plenty of places to walk and sit through the year.
The main chapel seats 80 and the family chapel 24, so a service can be large or very small indeed. Parking is tighter here at 26 spaces with more available nearby, so allow a little extra time. Brighton, Hove, Lewes and Worthing families all come to the Downs.
Reviews for Dignity Group
- Included:Over 200 years of caring for families
- Included:Local service from 558 branches
- Included:Funerals, plans, probate and more
Arranging a funeral at The Downs Crematorium & Cemetery
To hold a funeral here, speak to your local Dignity funeral director. They'll book the chapel, settle the paperwork with the crematorium and talk you through the choices at whatever pace suits you.
There's no rush, and no question is too small. You don't need to have anything worked out before you call.
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A chapel for every faith and belief
Ceremonies in our chapel can be arranged entirely around your customs, traditions and preferences. Let your funeral director know what matters to you, and they’ll take care of everything.
Memorials – a lasting tribute to someone special
Ask your funeral director about arranging a memorial at The Downs Crematorium & Cemetery.
Plaques or dedications
If you choose to scatter or keep the ashes, a plaque in our memorial grounds or dedication in the Book of Remembrance creates a lasting tribute for loved ones to visit.
Keepsakes and urns
Keep their memory close with a daily reminder of the person they were. From the traditional to the contemporary.
Visiting us
- Bear Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN2 4DZ
- 01273 572472
Crematorium Office Opening Hours
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm
Book of Remembrance & Grounds Opening Hours
Monday-Sunday: 9am-5pm
Our funeral directors near The Downs Crematorium & Cemetery
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What to expect at a cremation
Attending a ceremony
Each service here has a set length, and it varies from one crematorium to another. Your funeral director will tell you how long you have, let you know when to arrive and where to gather, and keep an eye on the timings on the day so that you don't have to.
The service can include readings, music and time for reflection, led by a minister, celebrant or family member. At the moment of farewell, called the committal, the coffin is lowered or hidden behind a curtain. Some families prefer to leave it in view.
When the service ends, there's usually time to gather outside and speak with other guests. Your funeral director will be there if you have any questions or concerns.
What to wear
Most people wear black or dark clothing but this isn't a rule. Some families ask guests to wear a particular colour or something that meant a lot to the person who has died, like a favourite team's shirt. They may also just want people to wear whatever they're comfortable in. If you've been invited and you're not sure, ask the family.
After the ceremony
The ashes are ready to collect from the crematorium a few days after the cremation. We can also hand-deliver them or scatter them in our memorial grounds for you, whichever you prefer. Some families choose to keep the ashes at home or scatter them somewhere with personal meaning.
A memorial is a lasting place in the world for someone special. Our crematoria offer a range of options, from plaques and benches to planting a tree in the gardens. Memorials can also be arranged after a direct cremation, even if there was no ceremony held at the crematorium itself.
What families say about us
Rated 4.91 / 5 based on 22 reviews.
Rated 5/5
As Funeral Directors Teresa & Michelle from Mother & Daughter Funeral Directors find the team at the Downs Crematorium extremely professional and friendly - nothing is ever too much trouble. They are always supportive to us and the families we look after, making sure everything runs smoothly. Their care, compassion, and attention to detail are truly a credit to them. Thank you to all he team.
Dan Heale, 30 October 2025
Rated 5/5
Beautiful cemetery where my twin sister Susan is buried in 1963
Kim HOPKINS, 22 October 2025
Rated 5/5
We have been working with the Downs Crematorium and Brighton & Preston Cemetery for five generations — over 120 years as Brighton & Hove’s oldest independent family funeral directors — and it’s always such a pleasure.
The team there are absolutely fantastic. Andrea, Daisy, Christine, Rob, Steve and Daniel are all so helpful, friendly and eager to make sure everything goes smoothly. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and their positive energy and “can-do” attitude make such a difference on the day.
It’s clear they really care about what they do and about the families they help. Working with people like this makes everything that bit easier, and we couldn’t ask for better colleagues in the work we do.
A big thank you to everyone at Downs Crematorium and Brighton & Preston Cemetery — you’re a credit to the community!
— Bungard Funeral Directors,
Richard Whittle, 16 October 2025
FAQs
We’re here to answer all your questions. If anything isn’t clear, please ask us.
Advice and guidance
Guides on cremation services and what to do with ashes.
Cremation service
What happens at a cremation, the paperwork needed beforehand, how long the service lasts, what shapes the cost, and when the ashes come back to you.
What to do with cremation ashes
Twenty things families have done with ashes – jewellery, tattoos, vinyl records, reefs, fireworks, a planted tree – and the practicalities of each.
Places to scatter ashes in the UK
Nine places families choose to scatter ashes – at home, at sea, on hills, rivers and sports grounds – and the permission each one asks of you first.
Burying ashes
Burying ashes in a cemetery, churchyard, garden of remembrance, woodland ground or your own garden – the permission needed for each, and what it costs.
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